BUTTER BOXES

Evening Star, Issue 21994, 2 April 1935, Page 8

BUTTER BOXES

SWEDISH PINE TO BE BANNED TIMBER TAINT NOTICED [Pm* Vmitto Pxxss Assocutiok.] WELLINGTON, April The unsuitability of Swedish pine for butter boxes for the export of New Zealand butter, and a ban on its us* except under certain conditions, is contained in a statement issued by th* Minister of Agriculture, Mr Macmillan, to-day. The statement says that the quality of New Zealand butter is such as to give good satisfaction to the great majority of its consumers and traders. With so, much butter on the markets of the United Kingdom, it is essential to safeguard its high reputation in every way possible. A complaint that is heard as frequently as any is that .of timber taint due to the odour of th* wood in the butter container getting to the surface of the butter, although there may be two thicknesses of parchment paper between the inside of the box and the butter. Some timbers giro more of this taint than others, and it is known that one of the most satisfactory timbers is New Zealand white pine, and one of the most unsatisfactory, as far as New Zealand experience goes, is Picea Excelsa, or Picea Abies, better known as Swedish pine. The dairy industry general regulations prescribe th* use of white pine or silver beech, or other approved species, it has now been decided that approval will not be forthcoming for the use of Swedish pine (unless wax impregnated) for containers of butter for export as'from August 1 next.